Key Steps towards Starting a Career as a Travel Nurse

Travel Nursing is an exciting career prospect for many in the healthcare industry. However, becoming a travel nurse requires a lot of patience and collaboration with a travel nursing agency. If you have been contemplating this on-the-go profession, the following guidelines about how to become a travel nurse will be helpful for you.

1. Gain The Relevant Degree And Work Experience

Most hospitals and facilities hiring travel nurses because they may have a staffing problem and therefore they need someone really good with their skills to fill that position. That’s why, not only should you have an accredited Degree in Nursing, but also be highly knowledgeable about your field. Besides this, most facilities require travel nurses to have at least a year of experience in their specialty.

2. Ensure That You Meet All Licensing Requirements

Before you take up any travel nursing assignment, it is important that all licensing requirements have been met. Licensing requirements vary from state to state, and the time and processes involve in getting a license will also be different for different states. Even if you plan well ahead for licensure, be prepared for unexpected delays or problems.

3. Choose A Travel Nursing Company As Per Your Needs

Larger companies usually have more assignments and more opportunities for work in the area of your preference. Smaller companies, on the other hand, may specialize in a particular location and offer more personalized services. Look for established companies with a strong reputation and years of experience, and those that listen to you and will help you in finding an assignment as per your preferences. It is alright to be working with more than one company at the same time. You’ll need to complete some paperwork for the company and will be assigned a recruiter who will work with you in finding as assignment for you.

4. Choose An Assignment

Needless to say, you have to choose an assignment bearing in mind your skill set and your preferences. Do not let the recruiter force you to take an assignment which you do not want to. Review the requirements of each facility you’re interested in and discuss the merits and demerits of each assignment with your recruiter, evaluating aspects such as pay, location, duration of contract, nature of work, etc.

5. Interview For An Assignment

Once you have identified and chosen an assignment that seems apt for you, the recruiter will arrange an interview with the hiring facility. Ask the recruiter to help you with preparatory tips for the interview. During the interview, ask questions about the hiring facility and the nature of the job to get a feel of what your job there will be like.

6. Accept The Assignment

Once the offer to work has been made, you are quite close to your dream job as a travel nurse. However, go over the details of the contract very carefully with your recruiter, making sure you understand all aspects of it before signing. It is unprofessional to reject a contract if a verbal agreement has been reached, unless the terms of the contract are totally unacceptable to you, or the details in the written document are very different from what had been verbally communicated to you.

Once you’re through all these stages, let the adventure as a travel nurse begin!